The transmission of Babesia bovis using frozen infective material obtained from Boophilus microplus larvae

Abstract

Boophilus microplus larvae infected with Babesia bovis were removed from a susceptible ox approximately 72 hours after attachment, triturated and stored in liquid nitrogen refrigerator with dimethyl sulphoxide as cryoproctectant. When inoculated into splenectomised cattle the suspension was infective in the 2 animals into which it was injected intravenously but not in the 3rd, which was only injected subcutaneously. The prepatent period in the infected cattle was 10 and 11 days respectively.